French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the initiative and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
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